Sealing-closure for containers



W. P. WHITE.

SEALING CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 9, I919.

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. t ll flit l l ltjll WILLIAM I. WHITE, Uh lEBHJUUKLYN, NJEllV YURK, AS$l GrNUlt TU ANCHOR CAP it: CLOWUHJE CURPURATIUN, 01E BROUKLYN, NEW YORK, ll. GURIPORATJEUN 01E NJE'W lE'UllEtllf.

fihltlhllNW-GLUSURJE FUR CUNTAINEES.

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To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that ll, WILLIAM P. WIIIrn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklymin the county of Kings, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sealing-Closures for Containers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates broadly to containers adapted for the packing or storage of foodstuffs and the like, and refers more specifically to a closure or cap by virtue of which a container such as a glass jar, tumbler or other vessel, may be hermetically sealed to preserve the contents.

In modern practice it is desirable to pack a variety of products in strai ht sided containers, such as tumblers. ll/ any products so packed are of a nature such as to require hermetic sealing in the first instance, and yet are not completely consumed when the package is initially opened. For the protection and preservation of such productsit is desirable that the closure used on the vessel be susceptible of reuse after the hermetic seal is broken so as to permit its being repeatedly replaced on and removed from the vessel as the contents of the package are gradually consumed.

. A closure for sealing such packages, in order to be commercially practical, must also be adapted to accommodate the very considerable commercial variations in the size, shape and finish of the packing vessels on which they are intended to be used.

A purpose of this invention is to provide a closure which is suitable for use on straight sided vessels; which is adapted, in the original use, to form a hermetlc seal upon the vessel; which is adapted to permlt the sealed packages being opened easily, when desired; which is adapted for reuse, after the hermetic seal has been broken, as a frictionally retained closure for the vessel, effective to retain its place thereon to prevent spilling or rapid evaporation of the contents; and which is adapted to accommodate wide variations in shape and size of vessels upon which it may be used, both in its capacity as a hermetic closure and a friction closure.

Specification of Letters Patent.

application filed July 9, 1919.

Patented July a, mac.

Serial No. 309,5?2.

teristics, wherein the friction seal may be I utilized to retain the cap in place on the vessel prior to and during the formation of the hermetic seal, so as to prevent spilling of the contents of the vessel durin the handling thereof in the formation of the hermetic seal.

Other and further objects of my invention will be obvious and pointed out here inafter, and in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, in which is illustrated what ll consider the preferred embodiment of the invention, but which l understand, and desire it to be understood, is not the only form contemplated by my invention as defined in the appended claims.

Described generally, my invention contemplates the provision of a closure cap of suitable flexible and ductile material, such as sheet metal, having proper stability to retain its form under the intended uses of such articles. This cap is shaped to provide the customary top portion which forms a 010-- sure for the vessel, and an annular skirt portion depending therefrom. The skirt portion is provided with a resilient expansible inner friction sealing portion which is adapted to be brought into engagement with the straight side wall of the vessel upon which the cap is seated in such fashion that the cap is held on the vessel by the frictional engagement or clasping action of this resilient portion. lln association with this resilient sealing portion is formed a bead in which a gasket of compressible material is retained so that the gasket and the cap may be handled together in the original applicalid till

lllll tion of the cap to the vessel. The cap with the carried gasket being placed on the vessel, the cap is subject to the action of proper pressing or spinning machinery which reforms the metal in a portion of the skirt of the cap so as to compress the gasket against the side wall of, the vessel about the entire circumference thereof, such re-formation of the cap also providing an annular restricting or tensioning bead which operates to hold the resilient friction sealing portion of the skirt under compression against the side of the vessel. The disposal of the gasket is such that it may be readily withdrawn from between the cap and the vessel, when desired, so as to break the hermetic seal and permit the removal of the cap. The cap, once having the hermetic seal broken, may beremoved and replaced on the vessel at will, operating, when in place, to securely close the vessel and protect the contents thereof.

Considering the embodiment shown in the drawings more specifically it will be understood that Figure 1 represents a .fragmentary elevational View of a glass tumbler with a form of m improved closure thereon, the said closure being shown in section, and being in the form as originally applied to the vessel previous to the formation of the herme'tic seal;

Fig. 2 is a similar fragmentary sectional view of a tumbler and sectional view of the cap, showing the arrangement of the latter when the hermetic seal has been formed;

Fig. 3 is likewise a fragmentary elevational view of a tumbler and cap illustrating the manner in which the gasket may be removed to break the hermetic seal; and

Fig. 4. is a fragmentary sectional view of a tumbler with a cap in section, illustrating the manner in which the cap is seated on the vessel after the gasket of the hermetic seal has been removed.

Referring to the several parts illustrated, by means .of 'the reference characters applied, it will be understood that C designates a suitable vessel, such as a glass tumbler; S designates a cap provided as a closure-for the vessel; and B designates a ring of compressible material provided as a gasket to form the'hermetic seal between the closure and the vessel.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the cap, as originally formed includes a top portion for covering the mouth of the vessel, said top being formed with an annular bead 3 to provide a rim receiving portion 4:. Depending from the periphery of the top portion is a skirt portion which is formed with an in wardly struck friction sealing head 5. This sealing bead projects inwardly beyond the perimeter of the top portion so that the peripheral head 6 is provided at the junction of the two. Below and continguously to the sealing bead 5 the skirt is formed conveXly to provide a channel 7 for the retention of an annular gasket B of comprcssible material, said gasket retaining portion terminating at the lowermost portion of the skirt in the form of an annular terminal flange 8, which in the original form of the cap, is effective to retain the gasket against falling out of the gasket receiving channel.

When a cap of the formabove described is placed upon the vessel upon which it is intended to be used the resilient sealing head 5 will have frictional engagement with the side wall of the vessel, and operate to hold the cap in place upon it, while the size of the gasket channel 7 and the gasket B, is such as to permit the passage of the container within the gasket with some clearance between the two. The forms of the scaling bead 5 and the channel 7 and gasket l5 are all such as to permit their accommodating a great variation in shape and size of vessels. The vessel with the cap thus in position is presented to suitable forming mechanism,

which is rendered effective upon the metal in the skirt portion below the sealing bead 5 to decrease the circumference of the gasket retaining channel, thereby pressing the gasket inwardly and compressing it tightly against the wall of the container. In placing the cap upon the container and in the reforming of the skirt of the cap to com press the gasket, the over-hanging bead 5 functions effectively as a stop to prevent displacement of the gasket upwardly on the skirt portion. At the time of the formation of the hermetic seal, it is customary practice to exhaust the air from the container and seal the package in oacuo. In the reforming of the skirt portion part of the metal in the gasket retaining channel is absorbed into a gathering ring by being folded upon itself to provide an annular constricting bead 7 located adjacent the lower limit of the friction seal bead 5, and at the upper limit of the portion in which the compressed gasket is retained. Marginal flange 8 is moved inwardly and rendered effective upon the outer edge of the gasket material to compress it over substantially its entire width, and retain it against the wall of the vessel. The folded metal in the constricting bead 7 provides a substantially non-expansible rerestricting device which operates under tension to retain the gasket tightly compressed against the wall of the vessel, thus filling up any irregularities between the cap and the vessel and providing a hermetic seal. The constricting member formed by the head 7 likewise imposes a restriction upon the expansibility of the friction sealing bead 5, holding the material in said bead under compression, so that the resiliency of the friction sealing bead is maintained. In this form the vessel is hermetically sealed and very securely retained in place.

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naaaraa the cap,.under the combined effect of the atmospheric pressure and close frictional engagement of the gasket with the vessel, is

The package is suitable for handling in shipment and will preserve its. contents indefinitely, and

the gasket is accessible from the exterior of the package to permit its removal without disabling the closure.

When it is desired to open the package, it is necessary to break the hermetic seal, and this is accomplished by forcing some pointed object into the gasket between the side of the vessel and the flange 8, thereby breaking the gasket and withdrawing one of the broken ends, and then the entire gasket. This permits the atmospheric air to relieve the partial vacuum within the container, and then the cap maybe readily withdraw from the vessel. "lhe cap thus removed is not punctured, distorted, or disabled in any particular, and is adapted for reuse as a closure for the vessel, either as a temporary removable closure, or as a hermetic closure. lln the event the entire contents of the package are not used at once upon the breaking of the hermetic seal, it may be desirable to use the closure as a temporary cover, which it is specially adapted for. as it may be replaced on the vessel and forced by hand into the position illustrated in Fig. 4L, wherein the crown of the resilient sealing bead 5 engages the wall of the container and holds the cap securely in place, preventing spilling or rapid evaporation of the contents. The capmay be removed from and put back in this relationship as often as necessary or desired. In the event it is desired to refill the vessel and use the closure again to make a hermetic seal, the vessel having been refilled and the cap placed in position, where it is held by the friction seal, the vessel may then be inverted, and melted paraffin, sealing wax, or other plastic material run into the space between the cap and the side of the vessel. The sealing bead 5 prevents the contents from flowing out, and the seal material from working into the vessel when it is in this inverted position.

As is illustrated in Fig.9, the re-formation of the skirt in effectin the original her-- metic seal is so accomplished that the gasket material is not confined in the constricting bead 7; therefore, it may be readily withdrawn in the manner above explained.

ln the making of the second hermetic seal, as by theuse of paraffin, a certain amount of the plastic material may flow into the head 7 and form an eflective anchor for retaining the sealing material from falling out. The second hermetic seal may be broken by removing the sealing material with a pointed instrument, and the cap may be again used I in the same; manner.

l have mentioned above how, in the orig metic seal. ft is not necessary, however, that the friction seal be seated on the vessel as a preliminary operation of the formation of the hermetic seal, as the mechanism which may be employed to re-form the cap to provide the hermetic seal may also eflect the seating of the friction sealing head in enga ement with the vessel.

flaving thus described my invention, what ll claim 1s 1. As an article of manufacture, a closure cap for packing vessels comprising a top v portion and an annular skirt portion of flexible material, said skirt portion being shaped to provide an inwardly eflective resilient friction sealing bead and a gasket retaining portion contiguous to and below said bead.

2. As an article of manufacture a closure cap for packing vessels including a top portion and an annular skirt portion of flexible material, said skirt portion being shaped to form a. gasket retaining part, an inwardly effective resilient friction sealing bead, and a circumferential restricting member effective upon the gasket retaining part and bead.

8. A closure cap for. packing vessels comprising atop portion and an annular skirt portion, said skirt portion being/shaped to form a gasket retaining part at the lower extremit of the skirt and a resilientfriction seallng bead associated with the gasket retaining part.

at. A closure cap for packing vessels comprising a top portion and an annular skirt portion, said skirt portionbeing shaped to form a gasket retaining part for holding a "asket and an inwardly effective resilient friction sealing bead associated with the gas ket retaining part. and eflective to limit upward movement of the gasket therein.

5. A closure cap for packing vessels comprising a top portion and an annular skirt portion; said skirt portion being shaped to provide a gasketretaining part adapted to retain a gasket in a position accessible from the exterlor of the cap, an inwardly eflective resilient friction sealing portlon, and a circumferential constrictlng bead effective to exert compressive influence upon the sealing to providea resilient sealing portion havinglll5 . frictional engagement with the side of the container and a gasket retaining part below the friction sealing portion, and a gasket compressed between thesaid gasket retaining part and the side of the container.

7. A package comprising the combination with a container of a closure cap having a top covering the mouth of the container and an annular skirt encompassing the wall thereof, said skirt being shaped to provide a gasket retaining portion and a resilient sealing portion having frictional engagement with the side of the container above the gasket retaining portion, and a gasket compressed between the said gasket retaining portion and the side of the container and accessible from the exterior of the package.

8. In combination with a container, a closure cap comprising a top covering the mouth of the container and an annular skirt encompassing the wall thereof, said skirt being shaped to provide a resilient sealing portion having frictional engagement with the side of the container and a gasket retaining portion below the friction sealing portion, and a gasket compressed between the said gasket retaining portion and the side of the vessel and removable with the cap in position on the container.

9. A package including the combination of a container and a closure cap having a portion forming a cover for the mouth of the container and a portion forming a skirt encompassing the wall of the container, the said skirt being shaped to provide a resilient sealing portion having frictional engagement with the side of the container and effective to retain the closure thereon, a gasket retaining portion effective to hold a gasket under compression against the side of the container to form a hermetic seal, and a gasketcompressed against the side of the vessel and the friction sealing portion.

10. A package comprising a container and a cap having a top portion forming a closure for the container and a skirt encompassing the wall of the container, said skirt being shaped to provide a resilient portion having frictional engagement with the wall of the container to maintain the closure thereon, a gasket associated with the cap and the side wall of the container, and a portion of the skirt shaped to retain the gasket and resilient portion under compression against the sideof the container.

11. A package comprising the combination of a container, a closure cap having a top covering the mouth of the container and an annular skirt encompassing the wall thereof, said skirt being shaped to provide a gasket retaining'portion and a resilient sealing portion having frictlonal engagement with the side of the container, and a gasket compressed between the said gasket retaining portion and the side of the container and accessible from the exterior of the package.

12. A package comprising the combination of a container, a closure cap having a top covering the mouth of the container and an annular skirt encompassing the wall thereof, said skirt being shaped to provide a gasket retaining portion and a resilient sealing portion having frictional engage ment with the side of the container, and a gasket compressed between the said retaim ing portion and the side of the container and removable from the exterior of the package. 1

13. In combination with a container, a closure cap comprising a top covering the mouth of the container and an annular skirt encompassing the wall thereof, said skirt being shaped to provide a resilient sealing portion-having frictional engagement with the side of the container, a gasket retaining portion, and a gasket compressed between the said gasket retaining portion and the side of the vessel and removable with the cap in position on the container.

14. A package including the combination of a container and a closure cap having a portion forming a cover for the mouth of the container and a portion forming a skirt encompassing the wall of the container, the said skirt being shaped to provide a resilient sealing portion having frictional engagement with the side of the container and effective to retain the closure thereon, and a gasket retaining portion effective to hold a gasket against the side of the container to form a hermetic seal; said gasket retaining portion being accessible from the exterior of the package.

15. In combination with a container, a closure cap therefor comprising a top portion covering the mouth of the container and an annular skirt portion encompassing the wall thereof, said skirt portion being shaped to provide a resilient sealing portion having frictional engagement with the side of the container to form a continuous sealing zone circumferentially thereof, a gasket retaining part below the friction sealing portion, and a gasket compressed between the said gasket retaining part and the side of the container.

16. A closure cap for packing vessels comprising a top portion and an annular skirt portion, said skirt portion being shaped to form a gasket retaining part for holding a gasket and an inwardly effective resilient friction sealing part associated with the gasket retaining part and effective to limit upward movement of the gasket therein.

17. As an article of manufacture, a closure cap for packing vessels including a top portion and an annular skirt portion of tea-area w lllllBXllblG material, saidl skirt portion being shaped to form a gasket retaining part, an inwardly effective itriction sealing part and a circumferential restricting member efl'ective upon the gasket retaining part and friction sealing part.

18. As an article of manufacture a 010- sure cap for packing vessels incluoling a top portion and i an annular skirt portion of 4 WILLIAM 1e. Wrrrrn. 

